Grass-twine machine.



O. T. WAITE.

GRASS TWINE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001'. 18, 1912.

Patented Sept. 15, 1911 2 SHEETS-SEEET 1.

J Wen/73107? 0629mm 7 THE NORRis PETERS 60.. PHOTO-LITHU WASHINGTON D40.

0. T. WAITB. GRASS TWINE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OOTJB, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHBET L Patented Sept. 15,1914.

HE NORRIS PETERS CO., PHOTO-LITHO.. WASHINGTON, D. C.

Im/enZbr? TINTTEE rnrnnr orrrcn.

OSSIAN T. VAI'IE, OF GSHKOSH, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR 'IG 'Wl-sl'lE GRASSCARPET COMPANY, or osi-rnosrr,

VTISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF l/VISCONSIN.

GRASS-TWINE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed Gctober 18, 1912.

Patented Sept. i5, 191%. Serial No. 726,518.

l. harm, a residing at Oshkosh, in the county of lVinnebago and State ofll isconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grass-Twine Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for arranging and forminggrasses into twine or similar material, and deals more particularly withthe means for feeding and advancing the grasses to the twine formingmechanism.

The objects of the present invention are to provide a plurality ofholders for the grasses and to arrange said holders about a commonreceptacle or conduitleading to the .twine forming mechanism; to providea set of feed rollers for each receptacle; to provide a selector foreach holder operating in a substantially horizontal plane for selectingand delivering wisps of grass from said holders to said feed rolls; toarrange the feed rolls in a plane whereby the grasses, when dischargedfrom said rolls, will be projected in a direct line toward thedischarging or delivery end of the receptacle or conduit; to providemeans for leveling the ends of the grassescontained in the holder; andto provide means for forcing said grasses toward the forward ordischarge end of the holder.

. he invention further consists in the features of construction and thecombination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of the device of thepresent invention; Fig. 2 a plan view; and Fig. 3 0

a side elevation of one of the holders.

In the art to whlchthe present invention relates d fhculty has beenexperienced in producing a twine which will be of a smooth nature and ofa uniform shade of color.

This is owing to the fact that the grasses from which the twine is madeare of different lengths and of different shades, and frequently informing twine bunches of grass of a certain shade will be fed to theforming mechanism and immediately fol lowed by a bunch of grass of adifferent desirable appearance to the same, and further a mass of grassof a relatively long length will be ofttimes followed by a mass of shortlength grasses, and when these various sized are formed into twine theywill not lie smooth and even, and will produce an undesirable lumpy andscraggly el'l'ect wh n the twine is woven into the form of a mat or rug.

In the present invention, a plurality of holders are employed, each ofwhich holders, it isintend'ed, will contain a grass of certain quality;that is, in one holder will be placed all the dark grasses; in anotherall light grasses; in the third all short grasses; and in the fourth alllong grasses, although the number of the holders is 0ptional with thebuilder. Then by providing means for feeding a portion of grass fromeach of said holders, the grass entering the forming mechanism will be amixture of all of said classes of grass, thereby producin a twine ofsubstantially uniform color and of substantially uniform dimensions.

Referring to the drawings, the means which I have employed asillustrating one methoo of carrying out this invention comprises afunnel-shaped receptacle or conduit 4-, which has its discharge ends 5terminating adjacent to a twine forming mechanism 8 of any suitable sizeand style. The conduit or receptacle is supported by any suitable meansupon a table 7, and arranged above said conduit and around the same area plurality of grass holders 8. In the device illustrated I have shownonly two of said holders, but it is understood that the number of saidholders may be any number greater than. two desired. It is the intentionthat each ofthese holders shall con tain a certain class or grade ofgrass, as, for instance, one of them may contain the lighter grasses;the second the dark grasses, etc. i l p The holders are arranged so thatthe grasses contained therein vextend in a vertical or substantiallyvertical plane and each of the holders, as shown, is of triangularformation in cross sections with its apex or contracted end 9constituted: and arranged. to provide the forward or discharge end ofsaid holder, and from this point the ends of the grasses are deflectedtherefrom and into the bite of the feedrolls. The

lower forward end of each holder is cut away,

as indicated at in Figs. 1 and 3. This is to enable the selectormechanism to enter into the mass of grasses contained in the.

holder.

The floor 11 of each holder preferably slopes downward toward theforward end thereof, so that the tendency of the mass of grasses withinthe holder is to advance toward the forward or discharge end thereof. Inorder, however, to more effectively accomplish the feed of the grassestoward the forward end of the holder, a pressing or crowding member 12may be employed in the form shown. This member consists of a bar 12-traveling in slots 13 in the slides of said holder, and said bar isconstantly advanced and pressed, in the form shown, toward the forwardend of the holder by tension mechanism 1A1. I

It is desirable in a device of this kind to level an end of the grasses.prior to their being fed forward to the forming mechanism, and in thepresent instance the means which I have illustrated to efiect theleveling operation comprises a cam or similar member 15 which operatesagainst the floor 11 of the holders. This floor is movable with respectto the body of the holder, whereby said cam in rotating will vibrate orjoggle the floor of the holder, and thus level the lower ends of thegrasses contained therein. Thus, the grasses, when fed out of theholders, will have their lower ends substantially aligned, so that theyenter the feed mechanism in substantially uniform order, a tensionmember 16 belng pro vided for maintaining the floor in constantengagement with the cam.

The selector mechanism 17 which I have illustrated as one form ofmechanism for carrying out this portion of the operation of a machineconsists of a plate or bar 18, which is reciprocated by means of a crankarm 19 driven by any suitable means from a.

suitable source of power, and the bar 18 is provided with a hook orsimilar device 20 which engages the ends of a bunch or wisp of grasslying withln the holder and flexes and delivers them into the bite ofthe feed rolls. The selector illustrated is provided with'a cam slot 21which causes it to travel with a four way motion. The particular form ofselector illustrated is not claimed as a part ofthe present invention,but is merely used to illustrate a form of selector which is capableof'operating in a horizon- ;tal'plane, as a type or form of selector so"operatingis deemed to be extremely desirable with a device of thenature of the present invention.

. For'each of the holders 8 I provide a set of feed rolls 22 which maybe of any suitable-form and size, and these rolls, as best illustratedin Fig. 1, are lying in a plane which is substantially at right anglesto a line radially extending fromthe discharge opening of the conduit orreceptacle 1. By this arrangement the grasses, when discharged from saidfeed rolls, will be passed into the receptacle in a line which extendsapproximately direct from said rolls to the discharge end of theconduit. It has been found that, by running the rolls at a relativelyhigh rate of speed, the grasses will be fanned or spread out prior totheir being discharged into the conduit, and will thus pass into theforming mechanism in a somewhat staggered arrangement, which is a verydesirable feature in devices similar to the one ofthe present invention.

By the arrangement above described, of the devices of the presentinvention, it will be noted that the grasses will depart very slightlyfrom the position they assume in the holder from the time they leave theholder until they are discharged into the forming inechanism;flthat is,they will remain at all times in a substantially vertical position. Thiseliminates any undesirable flexing or bending of the grasses duringtheir transmission which would tend to disarrange the same, and providesfor a speedy and simple method of delivering the grasses from theholders to the forming mechanism.

The operation of the device is briefly'as fellows: The holders are firstfilled with grasses which will be placed therein ina substantiallyvertical position. The .selectors will actuate to extract wispsv ofgrassfrom each holder and deliver them into the bite of the feed rollsassociated therewith, and the feed rolls in turn will project ordischarge them-into the receptacle or conduit from which they willpassintothe forming mechanism. As previously explained, the holders willcontain dlfi'erent grades and character of grasses, whereby theassortment of grasses fed to the receptacle or conduit will be of amixed nature and produce a. twine of substantially uniform color andsize. During the operation the presser member 12 will serve to keep thegrasses crowded. toward the front or discharge end ofthe receptacle, andthe action of the cams 15 will jostle or agitate the floor 11 of theholders, whereby the butt ends of the grasses will be leveled and willbe delivered to the feed rolls in even con-.

dition.

I claim: 1 H e '1. Ina device of the class described,the combinationwith a twine forming mechanism, of a funnel-shaped conduit leadingthereto, a series of holders arranged about said conduit and havingtheir inner ends overlying said conduit, a set of feed rolls for eachholder arranged at approximately right angles to a radial line extendingfrom the discharge end of said conduit, horizonios tally disposed meansfor selecting and delivering wisps of grass from said holder to saidfeed rolls, and means operatively connected for reciprocating saidselecting means, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination with a twineforming mechanism, of a funnel-shaped conduit leading thereto, a seriesof holders arranged about said conduit and having their inner endsoverlying said conduit, a set of feed rolls for each holder arranged atapproximately right angles to aradial line extending from the dischargeend of said conduit, horizontally disposed means for selecting anddelivering wisps of grass from the holders to said feed rolls, meansoperatively connected for reciprocatin said selecting means, and meansfor leveling the ends of the grasses contained withinthe holder,substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of a series ofholders arranged to support grasses in a vertical position therein,means for leveling the lower ends of said grasses, a set of feed rollsfor each holder, a single funnel-shaped receptacle into which said feedrolls discharge said rolls having their axial centers arranged atapproximately right angles to a radial line extending from thedischargeend of said receptacle, and means for delivering wisps ofgrasses from said holders to said feed rolls, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination with a twineforming mechanism, of a funnel-shaped conduit leading thereto, a seriesof holders arranged about said conduit and having their inner endsoverlying the same, said holders being adapted to support grassesvertically therein, means for leveling the lower ends of the grassescontained within the holder, a set of feed rolls for each holder, saidrolls being disposed at approximately right angles to a radial lineextending from the discharge end of said holder, and means for selectingand delivering wisps of grass from said holder to said feed rolls,substantially as described.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a series ofholders adapted to support grasses vertically therein, the floor of eachof said holders sloping in a downward direction toward the forward endthereof, means for forcing the grasses toward the forward ends of saidholders, a set of feed rolls for each holder, a common receptacle intowhich said feed rolls discharge, and means for selecting and deliveringwisps of grass from said holders to said feed rolls, substantially asdescribed.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a series ofholders arranged to support grasses vertically therein, a floor for eachof said holders movable with respect to the body of said holders, meansfor vibrating said floors to level the ends of the grasses containedwithin the holders, a set of feed rolls for each holder, a commonreceptacle into which said feed rolls discharge, and means for selectingand delivering wisps of grass from said holder to said feed rolls,substantially as described.

7. In a device of the class described, the combination of a series ofholders arranged to support grasses vertically therein, a floor for eachholder movable with respect to the body of the holder, means forvibrating said floors to level the ends of the grasses contained withinthe holders, said floors sloping downwardly toward the forward ends ofsaid holders,a set of feed rolls for each holder, a common receptacleinto which all of said feed rolls discharge, and means for selecting anddelivering wisps of grass from said holders to said feed rolls,substantially as described.

I OSSIAN T. VVAITE.

Witnesses:

D. L. RODERICK, GEO. J. MEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0.

